SAU ranked No. 1 in the NAIA
The St. Ambrose men's lacrosse team claimed the No. 1 spot in the NAIA Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll the association announced on Wednesday. This is the highest the men's lacrosse program has ever been ranked. The Bees were previously sitting at No. 3 in this year's poll. Indiana Tech, Cumberlands, Keiser, and Aquinas rounded out the Top 5 in this edition of the poll.
SAU has a perfect 7-0 record so far this season, earning ranked wins against Indiana Tech, William Penn, Columbia College, Concordia (Mich.), and Aquinas. The Bees have been led offensively by Michael Shakerin (21 goals, 18 assists), Cole Danner (17 goals, 5 assists), Michael Keating (12 goals, 9 assists), and Sam Kerr (14 goals, 4 assists). Shakerin ranks in the Top 5 in the NAIA in points and assists and is in the Top 10 in goals. Defensively, St. Ambrose is led by goalie Nolan Hayes, who is top of the NAIA in save percentage. Hayes also ranks in the Top 5 in saves and goals-against average. Dylan Witt is in the Top 10 of the NAIA in caused turnovers with 13, and Ben Blankenship has 10 with Hayden Latham and Shakerin close behind with nine. Hunter Northway has gone 91-127 in faceoffs putting him 4th in the NAIA.
This is the first time a St. Ambrose athletics program has been ranked No. 1 since the men's volleyball team claimed the top spot in the final NAIA regular-season poll in April 2012.